The Philadelphia Rebels (12-14-1-4) prepare for a crucial home-and-home series this weekend against the New Jersey Titans (15-8-3-1), beginning Friday night on the road in Middletown before returning home to Hollydell Ice Arena on Saturday. It’s the first meeting between the teams since early November.
Philadelphia enters the game after snapping its three-game losing streak on Tuesday with a 1-0 win over Danbury. The Rebels’ offense continues to be driven by Charlie Spencer, who leads the team with 26 points (8G, 18A) through 26 games and remains one of the most reliable playmakers in the division. Alex Lunski has pushed his way into second on the roster with 23 points, including 10 goals, while Jordan Brothers rounds out the top three with 18 points across 31 appearances.
In net, Ilja Nikitins continues to be one of Philadelphia’s strongest performers. The rookie goaltender enters the matchup with an 8-7-0 record, a 2.30 goals-against average, and an impressive .927 save percentage, ranking among the best marks in the NAHL East. His 31-save shutout against the Hat Tricks on Tuesday marked the first in his career.
The Titans are led by standout defenseman Blake Jones, whose 32 points (3G, 29A) pace the team. Skogen Schrott brings a mix of scoring and physicality with 25 points, while Arseniy Zharikov and Owen Leahy add additional scoring depth.
In goal, Andrei Nikolaev has anchored New Jersey’s crease with a 10-5-0 record, a 2.48 GAA, and a .917 save percentage.
Special teams may determine the outcome. The Rebels’ power play ranks 34th in the league (10.4%), while New Jersey sits 22nd at 19.5%. On the penalty kill, Philadelphia holds the edge at 79.0%, compared to the Titans’ 72.3%.
With both teams battling for positioning in a tight East Division, this weekend’s series carries significant weight as the midpoint of the season approaches.
The series begins Friday at 7:00 p.m. in Middletown, with Saturday’s rematch set for 7:30 p.m. at Hollydell Ice Arena. Both games can be viewed live on NATV.